Spice Up Your Diet & Live Longer

If you like your food hot and spicy, you may live longer. Today, research shows that people who include hot spices and fiery sauces in their diets lead healthier, longer lives than those who have a more mild palate.

So, go ahead — add another splash of Tabasco to your eggs and smear another glob of wasabi on your sushi; you may be extending your life.

the history of spices

Cultures around the globe have been enjoying hot spices and sauces for years, and not purely for taste. Chilies, hot peppers and other spices were initially used in ancient civilizations for decorative and medicinal purposes. Today, they are integral components of many traditional cuisines throughout Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. The most common type of spice used worldwide is the chili pepper, which is second only to salt as a seasoning. Chili peppers were first consumed by the Inca, Aztec and Mayan civilizations as early as 7000 B.C. In the 15th and 16th centuries, chilies and other types of spicy peppers were introduced by explorers to the rest of the world, including Europe, Africa and Asia.

Currently, China, Turkey, Nigeria, Spain, and Mexico are the largest commercial chili producers, and they export their goods to nearly every continent in the world. Today, it is relatively easy to find chilies — and other hot spices — in almost every supermarket across the globe.

why are hot spices healthy?

Chilies and hot peppers can thank capsaicin, the main ingredient found within their veins (and the chemical that gives them their heat) for the health benefits that they exude.

Capsaicin is an odorless, flavorless chemical that has been scientifically proven to combat several common health issues, including high blood pressure, cholesterol, joint pain, depression, and digestion problems.

Capsaicin stimulates then decreases the intensity of pain signals in the body. For this reason, capsaicin is frequently used as a topical treatment for pain relief in the clinical setting, including the treatment of pain following surgery, joint problems, mouth sores, and certain skin conditions.

But chilies and peppers are not the only hotties that can improve your health.

Turmeric, the main ingredient in many spicy sauces and curries — found primarily in Middle Eastern, Indian and South East Asian cuisines — has also shown specific health benefits in those who consume the spice in their everyday diets.

The main chemical in turmeric is curcumin, which is thought to slow the progression of certain neurodegenerative diseases. Most recently, it has shown promising results in delaying the onset of Alzheimer's disease, and it could possibly be used to develop a preventative treatment.

Alzheimer's disease results from the build up of "knots" in the brain called amyloid plaques. In a study conducted at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), turmeric was shown to reduce the number of these plaques by half.

This research, combined with the fact that Alzheimer's affects only 1% of the over-65 population in Indian villages, leads researchers to believe that a diet rich in turmeric may assist in warding off neurological diseases.

Recent studies also show that cultures that use hot peppers and spices in their diets have lower rates of cancer, heart attack, stroke, and pulmonary embolism.

Find out how slapping some hot sauce on those chicken wings can help you live longer, and how to spice up your life with some easy recipes...